Syntax
noun
The rules in a language for arranging words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
The teacher explained the syntax of the English language.
Often appears as...
- syntax rules
- syntax errors
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The structure or organization of something.
If the syntax of the programming code is incorrect, the computer will not be able to understand it.
Often appears as...
- syntax errors
- syntax highlighting
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in sign language.
To use sign language effectively, you have to understand its syntax.
Often appears as...
- syntax in sign language
- asl syntax
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The rules in a language for arranging words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
The teacher explained the syntax of the English language.
Often appears as...
- syntax rules
- syntax errors
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The structure or organization of something.
If the syntax of the programming code is incorrect, the computer will not be able to understand it.
Often appears as...
- syntax errors
- syntax highlighting
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in sign language.
To use sign language effectively, you have to understand its syntax.
Often appears as...
- syntax in sign language
- asl syntax
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Sentence Structure
Understand how word order affects meaning and clarity in sentences.
Correct syntax: 'The cat chased the mouse.' Incorrect: 'Chased the cat the mouse.'
Pro Tip 2/3Communication Clarity
Mastering syntax ensures your sentences convey clear and precise messages.
With good syntax: 'She delivered the presentation confidently.'
Pro Tip 3/3Error Identification
Learning about syntax can help you spot and correct mistakes in your own writing.
Spot syntax errors to avoid confusion: 'I enjoys swimming.' should be 'I enjoy swimming.'
Compare with
grammarstructure
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Video examples
Speaking the Language PIPE...
sentences into syntax Jessie's been really probably one of the most amazing language coaches that I've worked with a pronunciation came first was to get the pattern the international pattern of the language down and the cadence is solid musasa we'd said of nasa's so it which is the way we'd say it in english so we worked that first that was the first
Video examples
Why elephants never...
about their mental lives. Elephants communicate using everything from body signals and vocalizations, to infrasound rumbles that can be heard kilometers away. And their understanding of syntax suggests that they have their own language and grammar. This sense of language may even go beyond simple communication.
Video examples
Yoda Lingo 101 PIPE StarTalk
they use it halfway, and I said, can I do it all the time? They said yeah. The way I view it is, Yoda is-- This is where adjectives and nouns are switched in places-- I'm not smart enough enough to know what an adjective or a noun is. Yeah, the sentence is fully understandable but clearly from another syntax.
Video examples
How smart are dolphins?...
and syntax that governs how they are structured. Dolphins are also one of the few species who pass the mirror test. By recognizing themselves in mirrors, they indicate physical self-awareness, and research shows they can recognize not just their bodies,
Video examples
How computers translate...
To translate this sentence properly, the program would refer to a different set of vocabulary and rules for each element of the target language. But this is where it gets tricky. The syntax of some languages allows words to be arranged in any order,
Video examples
A delightful way to...
that only belongs to the mystery makers. That it's almost as far removed from everyday life as, say, nuclear physics. And they are partly right about that. There's a lot of syntax and controls and data structures
Video examples
David Bolinsky:...
They are things that describe beauty in a way that is often only accessible if you understand the language and the syntax of the person who studies the subject in which truth and beauty is expressed.
Video examples
Experiencing art as...
text files sets of instructions written as a computation and languages as a syntax I'm an architect but I don't draw yet if you exactly those protocols they
Video examples
Orangutan understands 72...
AZ's astonishing accuracy demonstrates not just a strong grasp of syntax and vocabulary, -but a razor-sharp long-term memory. -That was spectacular.
Video examples
Incredible Orangutan...
that he works with now aids astonishing accuracy demonstrates not just a strong grasp of syntax and vocabulary but a razor-sharp long-term memory
Video examples
Speaking the Language PIPE...
sentences into syntax Jessie's been really probably one of the most amazing language coaches that I've worked with a pronunciation came first was to get the pattern the international pattern of the language down and the cadence is solid musasa we'd said of nasa's so it which is the way we'd say it in english so we worked that first that was the first
Video examples
Why elephants never...
about their mental lives. Elephants communicate using everything from body signals and vocalizations, to infrasound rumbles that can be heard kilometers away. And their understanding of syntax suggests that they have their own language and grammar. This sense of language may even go beyond simple communication.
Video examples
Yoda Lingo 101 PIPE StarTalk
they use it halfway, and I said, can I do it all the time? They said yeah. The way I view it is, Yoda is-- This is where adjectives and nouns are switched in places-- I'm not smart enough enough to know what an adjective or a noun is. Yeah, the sentence is fully understandable but clearly from another syntax.
Video examples
How smart are dolphins?...
and syntax that governs how they are structured. Dolphins are also one of the few species who pass the mirror test. By recognizing themselves in mirrors, they indicate physical self-awareness, and research shows they can recognize not just their bodies,
Video examples
How computers translate...
To translate this sentence properly, the program would refer to a different set of vocabulary and rules for each element of the target language. But this is where it gets tricky. The syntax of some languages allows words to be arranged in any order,
Video examples
A delightful way to...
that only belongs to the mystery makers. That it's almost as far removed from everyday life as, say, nuclear physics. And they are partly right about that. There's a lot of syntax and controls and data structures
Video examples
David Bolinsky:...
They are things that describe beauty in a way that is often only accessible if you understand the language and the syntax of the person who studies the subject in which truth and beauty is expressed.
Video examples
Experiencing art as...
text files sets of instructions written as a computation and languages as a syntax I'm an architect but I don't draw yet if you exactly those protocols they
Video examples
Orangutan understands 72...
AZ's astonishing accuracy demonstrates not just a strong grasp of syntax and vocabulary, -but a razor-sharp long-term memory. -That was spectacular.
Video examples
Incredible Orangutan...
that he works with now aids astonishing accuracy demonstrates not just a strong grasp of syntax and vocabulary but a razor-sharp long-term memory
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Tone is somewhat totalising in that, once I locate it, it tells me what kind of syntax to use, what word choices to make, how much white space to leave on the page, what sentence length, what the rhythmic patterning will be. If I can't find the tone, I sometimes try narrating through the point of view of someone else.
Quote examples
Jean M. Auel
American Writer
And that's how I start myself. I usually go back a couple of pages, maybe to the beginning of the chapter, and I start reading. And as I'm reading, I'm tweaking - putting in a different word, changing the syntax, putting that clause over there, you know that sort of thing.
Quote examples
Anne Carson
Canadian Poet
We're talking about the struggle to drag a thought over from the mush of the unconscious into some kind of grammar, syntax, human sense; every attempt means starting over with language. starting over with accuracy.
Quote examples
Marilyn Hacker
American Poet
The ambiguities of language, both in terms of vocabulary and syntax, are fascinating: how important connotation is, what is lost and what is gained in the linguistic transition.
Quote examples
Ali Smith
Scottish Writer
The rhythmical unit of the syllable is at the back of all of it - the word, the phrase, the sentence, the syntax, the paragraph, and the way the heart moves when you read it.
Quote examples
Bram Cohen
American Scientist
My favorite language for maintainability is Python. It has simple, clean syntax, object encapsulation, good library support, and optional named parameters.
Quote examples
Patrick Modiano
French Novelist
A novelist can never be his own reader, except when he is ridding his manuscript of syntax errors, repetitions, or the occasional superfluous paragraph.
Quote examples
Gordon W. Allport
American Psychologist
Each person is an idiom unto himself, an apparent violation of the syntax of the species.
Quote examples
Eddie Huang
American Chef
I want to prove you don't need to have academic syntax to be intelligent.
Quote examples
Alexandre Desplat
French Composer
Every director has his own syntax, his own grammar, his own words.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Tone is somewhat totalising in that, once I locate it, it tells me what kind of syntax to use, what word choices to make, how much white space to leave on the page, what sentence length, what the rhythmic patterning will be. If I can't find the tone, I sometimes try narrating through the point of view of someone else.
Quote examples
Jean M. Auel
American Writer
And that's how I start myself. I usually go back a couple of pages, maybe to the beginning of the chapter, and I start reading. And as I'm reading, I'm tweaking - putting in a different word, changing the syntax, putting that clause over there, you know that sort of thing.
Quote examples
Anne Carson
Canadian Poet
We're talking about the struggle to drag a thought over from the mush of the unconscious into some kind of grammar, syntax, human sense; every attempt means starting over with language. starting over with accuracy.
Quote examples
Marilyn Hacker
American Poet
The ambiguities of language, both in terms of vocabulary and syntax, are fascinating: how important connotation is, what is lost and what is gained in the linguistic transition.
Quote examples
Ali Smith
Scottish Writer
The rhythmical unit of the syllable is at the back of all of it - the word, the phrase, the sentence, the syntax, the paragraph, and the way the heart moves when you read it.
Quote examples
Bram Cohen
American Scientist
My favorite language for maintainability is Python. It has simple, clean syntax, object encapsulation, good library support, and optional named parameters.
Quote examples
Patrick Modiano
French Novelist
A novelist can never be his own reader, except when he is ridding his manuscript of syntax errors, repetitions, or the occasional superfluous paragraph.
Quote examples
Gordon W. Allport
American Psychologist
Each person is an idiom unto himself, an apparent violation of the syntax of the species.
Quote examples
Eddie Huang
American Chef
I want to prove you don't need to have academic syntax to be intelligent.
Quote examples
Alexandre Desplat
French Composer
Every director has his own syntax, his own grammar, his own words.
Example 1 of 10
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